Pakistan faces challenges in both food and energy security. Indeed, extensive literature suggests that food and energy security are interdependent. While acknowledging that food security is still a primary concern for Pakistan, energy security is also a major issue. It is crucial to develop sustainable energy sources for energy production. Among sustainable sources, biomass is a promising source that can be effectively used for environmentally friendly energy production. This article addresses the energy issues and potential solutions using crop residues, non-edible energy crops, and animal and municipal solid wastes in Pakistan. The current research challenges, relevant industries, opportunities, and the future share of energy production derived from renewable and sustainable sources are emphasized with a focus on the potential of biomass energy. This article shows that Pakistan has considerable potential to develop bioenergy crops on marginal lands without compromising food security, with considerable greenhouse gas (GHG) benefits. Pakistan has vast biomass resources, including crop residues, animal waste, municipal solid waste, and forest residues, which collectively produce 230 billion tons of biomass annually. There are about 72 million bovines (cows and buffaloes), 81 million tons per year of crop biomass, and about 785 million birds in poultry farms across the country. Land that is currently non-productive could be used for energy crops, and this has the potential to produce 2500–3000 MW of energy. The utilization of waste cooking oil and fats is the most economically feasible option for obtaining biodiesel due to its easy and almost free availability in Pakistan. Systematic management is needed to collect this huge quantity of waste cooking oil and efficiently convert it to biodiesel. Similarly, molasses may be a promising source for bioethanol production. Furthermore, this study suggests that Pakistan’s energy policies need to be amended to ensure that the energy supply meets the demand. In the future, massive energy projects on biomass-based bioenergy need to be implemented in Pakistan. To achieve its bioenergy potential, Pakistan needs to develop incentive-based bioenergy technologies. Moreover, this objective can only be achieved in the country by initiating R&D projects to promote advanced biomass conversion technologies, such as biogas plants and combustion systems.

As an antioxidant, alpha-tocopherol (α-Toc) protects plants from salinity-induced oxidative bursts. This study was conducted twice to determine the effect of α-Toc as a foliar spray (at 0 (no spray), 100, 200, and 300 mg L⁻¹) to improve the yield and biochemical constituents of fresh green capsules of okra (Abelmoschus esculentus L. Moench) under salt stress (0 and 100 mM). Salt stress significantly reduced K⁺ and Ca²⁺ ion concentration and yield, whereas it increased H₂O₂, malondialdehyde (MDA), Na⁺, glycine betaine (GB), total free proline, total phenolics, and the activities of catalase (CAT), guaiacol peroxidase (GPX), and protease in both okra varieties (Noori and Sabzpari). Foliar application of α-Toc significantly improved the yield in tested okra varieties by increasing the activity of antioxidants (CAT, GPX, SOD, and ascorbic acid), accumulation of GB, and total free proline in fruit tissues under saline and non-saline conditions. Moreover, α-Toc application as a foliar spray alleviated the adverse effects of salt stress by reducing Na⁺ concentration, MDA, and H₂O₂ levels and improving the uptake of K⁺ and Ca²⁺. Among the tested okra varieties, Noori performed better than Sabzpari across all physio-biochemical attributes. Of all the foliar-applied α-Toc levels, 200 mg L⁻¹ and 300 mg L⁻¹ were more effective in the amelioration of salinity-induced adverse effects in okra. Thus, we concluded that higher levels of α-Toc (200 mg L⁻¹ and 300 mg L⁻¹) combat salinity stress more effectively by boosting the antioxidant potential of okra plants.

Soils have been getting worse over time, which has led to lower crop yields and nutritional value. This is because of too many conventional fertilizers, anthropogenic activities, and climate change. Soil salinity is also a big problem and challenge for agricultural scientists. To address this issue, nanoparticles are gaining a reputation in agriculture that can enhance salinity tolerance in crops, especially at early growth stages. A pot experiment was conducted at Post Agricultural Research Station (PARS), Faisalabad to assess the impact of iron oxide nanoparticles (0, 15, and 30 ppm) and four levels of salinity (0, 50, 100 and 150 mM) on morphological, physiological and yield traits of maize (Zea mays L.) in salinity stress. Salinity stress significantly negatively affected the growth attributes, photosynthetic pigments, ion content (Na⁺, K⁺, and Ca²⁺) of maize plants. Salinity has also increased the levels of MDA, H₂O₂, and Na⁺ ions. The application of iron oxide nanoparticles through foliar spray had a notable impact in enhancing the growth and yield of the tested maize variety. It was achieved by promoting the activities of antioxidant enzymes, increasing photosynthetic pigments, and elevating K⁺ and Ca²⁺ ion levels under both normal and salinity-stressed conditions. Additionally, iron oxide nanoparticles mitigated the adverse effects of salinity stress by effectively reducing Na⁺ ion concentration, MDA levels, and H₂O₂ concentration. Among the different concentrations tested, 30 ppm of iron oxide nanoparticles proved best in alleviating the negative impacts of salinity stress in maize. Thus, field use of 30 ppm iron oxide nanoparticles as foliar spray could effectively mitigate salinity stress in maize.

Biochar application is considered an effective approach to mitigating nitrous oxide (N₂O) emissions from agricultural soils. However, the mechanisms of biochar to mitigate N₂O emissions from acidic red soils are still unclear. Therefore, the present study aims to underpin mechanisms associated with rice residue-based biochar in mitigating N₂O emissions from acid soils. Soil treated with different rates of biochar control, from 1%, 2%, and 3%, and different soil properties, including soil pH, microbial biomass carbon (MBC), NH₄⁺-N, NO₃⁻-N, genes abundance (nosZ, nirK, AOA, and AOB), and enzymatic activities ((nitrate reductase (NR) and urease (UR)) were studied. The application of 3% biochar increased the soil pH (5.21–6.48), MBC (565–685 mg/kg), NO₃⁻-N contents (24.23–44.5 mg/kg), genes abundance (nosZ, nirK, AOA, and AOB) and UR activity. The highest N₂O emission (43.60 μg kg⁻¹) was recorded and compared with the application of 1% (26.3 μg kg⁻¹), 2% (18.33 μg kg⁻¹), and 3% biochar (8.13 μg kg⁻¹). Applying 3% biochar effectively reduced the N₂O emission due to increased soil pH, MBC, NO₃⁻-N contents, genes abundance (nosZ, nirK, AOA, and AOB), and weakened NH₄⁺-N and NR activities. Therefore, increasing soil pH, genes abundance, and weakened nitrification following the addition of rice residue-based biochar can effectively reduce the N₂O emissions from acidic red soils.

Priming with antioxidants like α-tocopherol is a pragmatic method to alleviate salinity effects. In this study, seeds of two okra varieties (Noori and Sabzpari) were primed for 16 h before sowing with α-tocopherol levels [0 (distilled water), 100, 200 and 300 mg L-1] and salinity levels (0 and 100 mMNaCl) were maintained after sowing the seeds in plastic pots. Salt stress reduced the fresh biomass and yield while, increased the antioxidants activities(CAT, GPX, SOD and protease) total soluble sugars, reducing sugars, MDA, H2O2, total soluble proteins, glycinebetaine and free proline contents of tested okra varieties. Whereas non-significant effect of salinity was recorded for non-reducing sugars, ascorbic acid, total phenolics and activity of POD in tested okra varieties. Alpha tocopherol seed priming proved effective in improving root and shoot fresh biomass, yield, sugars, total soluble proteins, glycinebetaine content and activities/concentration of antioxidants (ascorbic acid, total phenolics, GPX, SOD and protease) in both tested varieties under saline regime. Though, no significant alteration was observed on the concentration of MDA, H2O2 and free proline content due to alpha tocopherol seed priming treatment. Among all α-tocopherol levels used inclusively 200 and 300 mg L-1 were more active. In addition, variety Noori performed better than Sabzpari in all traits.

To ensure energy security and greenhouse gas emission, the world has decided to look for more sustainable and renewable energy sources. Biogas production from agricultural biomass is a fast growing market in the world. Suitable energy crops include maize, clover grass, alfalfa, sorghum, sudangrass, miscanthus and many others. Management considerations of energy crops such as harvesting time and nitrogen (N) application considerably influenced the biomass yield, quality of crop along with bio-methane production. Therefore, field study was conducted to determine the impact of harvesting times (HT) and nitrogen rates on the biomass yield of maize and production of bio-methane from it. The variable NR and HT, had a substantial influence on morphological, and compositional traits and bio-methane production. The N application at 200 kg ha-1 produced the taller plants, with maximum leaves, leaf area, biomass yield, protein contents, acid detergent fiber (ADF), neutral detergent fiber (NDF), and lignin contents. In addition to that higher nitrogen rate (200 kg ha-1) produced higher methane production however, it remained the same with 150 kg N ha-1. Harvesting at 65 DAS produced the maximum taller plants with maximum leaf area, biomass yield and had maximum ADF and NDF which negatively affected the specific methane yield. Moreover, harvesting at 65 DAS produced maximum methane yield (MP) due to higher biomass yield (BY). It is concluded that N application @ 150 kg ha-1 and harvesting at 65 DAS can be suitable for getting the higher bio-methane production under semi-arid conditions of Pakistan.